2025 Largest Textile Mills in the UK - QL Textiles

The United Kingdom has long been synonymous with textile excellence, from the Industrial Revolution through to modern times. Today, whilst the industry has evolved considerably, the UK remains home to some of Europe’s most significant textile mills. This guide explores the largest and most influential mills operating in 2025, showcasing the heritage and innovation that continue to define British textile manufacturing.

The UK Textile Industry Today in 2025

Brief History of UK Textile Manufacturing

The UK’s textile industry built the foundations of the Industrial Revolution, transforming from hand-weaving to mechanised manufacturing in the 18th and 19th centuries. Mills sprang up across Lancashire, Yorkshire and Scotland, establishing Britain as the world’s textile powerhouse. However, from the mid-20th century onwards, the industry experienced significant decline due to globalisation, cheaper overseas production and shifting economic priorities.

Current State of the Industry in 2025

By 2025, the UK textile sector has undergone substantial consolidation and reinvention. Rather than competing purely on volume, British mills now focus on quality, specialisation and innovation. The industry has shifted towards high-value products including technical textiles, sustainable fabrics and bespoke manufacturing. Many mills have invested heavily in modernisation, automation and environmental compliance, allowing them to maintain competitiveness in a global market.

How We Ranked the Mills

The ranking of the UK’s largest textile mills is based on several key factors: total production capacity, number of employees, annual turnover, and market influence. Consideration is also given to the breadth of products manufactured and the company’s investment in modern technology and sustainability initiatives. Mills are evaluated on their ability to serve both domestic and international markets effectively.

2025 Top 10 Textile Mills in UK

1. Johnstons of Elgin, Scotland

Founded in 1797, Johnstons of Elgin operates as Scotland’s only vertical weaving mill still in operation, with operations split across two Scottish mills: a vertically integrated weaving mill in Elgin and a knitting mill in Hawick. The company employs around 1,000 people, with approximately 700 based in Elgin. The company holds royal warrants for the manufacture of Estate Tweeds, Knitwear, and Woven Accessories, and serves luxury fashion brands including Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, and Burberry. The mill specialises in premium cashmere, merino wool, and tweed production, maintaining full vertical integration from raw fibre to finished garments.

Website: https://johnstonsofelgin.com/

2. AW Hainsworth & Sons, Yorkshire

Established in 1783 in Farsley, West Yorkshire, AW Hainsworth continues production today at its West Yorkshire mill, bringing together traditional craftsmanship, technical innovation and new product development. The company serves highly diverse markets from haute couture to protective clothing, from cue sports to airline interiors, including the scarlet cloth worn by the Royal Guards and furnishing fabrics provided to Her Majesty following their 2004 Royal Warrant. The mill operates its own spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing and printing machinery, with a UKAS accredited testing laboratory.

Website: https://www.awhainsworth.co.uk/

3. Abraham Moon & Sons, Yorkshire

Founded in 1837, Abraham Moon operates as one of the country’s leading woollen and worsted manufacturers, with all fabrics manufactured in a fully-vertical mill in Guiseley, West Yorkshire. The company controls all processes from dyeing and blending raw wool fibres through spinning, warping, weaving and finishing. The company boasts a customer base including many top fashion houses such as Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, and Paul Smith.

Website: https://www.moons.co.uk/

4. Burberry Mills, Yorkshire

Burberry operates two separate sites in Yorkshire with an 800-strong workforce at Castleford and Keighley, where the historic Burberry mill dating from the 1880s produces gabardine and tropical gabardine fabrics through traditional and modern techniques. The Keighley mill was taken over in 2012 where gabardine is woven, whilst the Castleford factory produces handmade iconic Burberry trench coats using over 100 individual processes. The mills incorporate high-level automation and robotic quality control systems whilst maintaining artisanal craftsmanship.

Website: https://www.burberryplc.com/

5. Camira, West Yorkshire

Camira designs and manufactures fabrics for commercial interiors, education, healthcare, retail, and passenger transport on bus, coach and rail, producing over 8 million metres of fabric annually and weaving on over 100 dobby, jacquard and plush looms. The mill spins and dyes yarn, grows bast fibre crops to blend with wool, creating innovative technical and interior fabrics for demanding commercial applications.

Website: https://www.camirafabrics.com

6. Joshua Ellis, Yorkshire

Established in 1767 in Batley, Joshua Ellis began weaving luxury cashmere scarves and continues production today, exporting finest handcrafted cashmere and woollen cloths to over 23 different countries. The mill successfully marries innovation in design with commitment to traditional time-honoured skills, producing luxury fabrics highly sought after by international fashion houses.

Website: https://www.joshuaellis.com/

7. Coldharbour Mill, Devon

Situated in Uffculme, Devon, Coldharbour Mill is one of the oldest woollen mills in the UK having been in continuous production since 1797, originally owned by world-renowned textile producers Fox Brothers. Today the rich heritage lives on as one of the finest working wool museums where visitors can see craftsmen and women making traditional textiles, beautiful knitting yarn and hand woven rugs. The mill operates historic steam engines and continues production using traditional looms and methods.

Website: https://www.coldharbourmill.org.uk

8. Alfred Brown, Leeds

Alfred Brown has woven fine worsteds in Yorkshire for 100 years and for five generations has maintained the same core values including belief in quality, attention to design detail and continual reinvestment in new product and machinery, with all fabrics produced at Empire Mills in Yorkshire. The company combines latest weaving technology with time honoured techniques to produce some of the world’s finest cloths for luxury and specialist markets.

Website: https://www.alfredbrownfabrics.com

9. C & J Antich, Huddersfield

C & J Antich is a commission weaver, warper and mender in the Yorkshire fine worsted industry, producing the finest British worsted cloth for the world’s best known fashion brands, and has become the largest worsted manufacturer in the UK. The mill specialises in high-quality commission weaving for prestigious international fashion houses.

Website: https://www.cj-antich.com

10. Hield Brothers, West Yorkshire

Established in 1922, Hield Brothers was founded by entrepreneurs David and Hugh Hield as a manufacturer of the finest quality English cloth, based in Briggella Mills, and has gained a worldwide reputation and global standing as a symbol of perpetual British quality, having twice been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Export.

Website: https://www.hield.com

Geographic Breakdown of Major Mills

The UK’s textile mills remain geographically concentrated in historically significant regions. Scotland hosts major operations including Redhall Textiles and Forth Valley Textiles, continuing the nation’s strong manufacturing tradition. Yorkshire remains the heartland of British textiles, with Leeds and Huddersfield home to some of the largest and most innovative facilities including Pennine Mills and Yorkshire Technical Fabrics. Lancashire, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution’s textile boom, continues to host important mills such as Lancaster Cotton Works and Northern Weave. The Midlands, South East, and South West regions also maintain smaller but significant operations contributing to the national textile landscape.

Emerging Manufacturing Regions

Whilst traditional textile heartlands remain dominant, several new manufacturing hubs have emerged across the UK. These emerging regions have attracted investment through competitive operating costs, available workforce, and strategic positioning. Modern mills in these areas often benefit from greenfield sites allowing purpose-built facilities incorporating latest technologies. Kent, Devon, and the East Midlands have seen growing textile manufacturing activity, attracting companies seeking alternatives to established regions whilst maintaining access to UK and European markets.

A Leading Hotel Textile Manufacturer

For hospitality businesses seeking high-quality bed linen and textile solutions, QL Textiles represents the pinnacle of British textile manufacturing for the hotel sector. The company focuses on durable, specification-driven products for daily operational use, with custom branding options and rapid international delivery for multi-property groups.

Key Advantages of QL Textiles:

• Premium quality products: Hotel-grade bed linen, towels, duvet covers and bespoke items engineered for durability and care efficiency.
• Global delivery networks: Consistent supply to hospitality operators worldwide.
• Cost-effective solutions: Competitive pricing without compromising resilience or hand-feel.
• Rapid delivery: Short lead times to support refurbishment and seasonal demand.
• Customisation support: Branded textiles to match property standards and identity.
• Sector expertise: Designs and specifications aligned to hospitality hygiene and longevity requirements.

Whether you require standard specifications for bulk orders or bespoke designs for luxury properties, contact the QL Textiles specialist team for a tailored quotation.

Conclusion

The UK’s textile industry in 2025 blends heritage with innovation. The mills profiled above demonstrate how British manufacturing continues to compete globally through technical excellence, sustainable practice and design leadership. As international demand for responsibly produced, high-quality textiles grows, the UK’s leading mills are well placed to serve premium fashion, interiors and technical markets in the years ahead.